With national testing dates affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has worked with colleges and universities across the state to make additional testing opportunities available for 2021 PROMISE Scholarship applicants. 2021 PROMISE applicants have been given special permission to use ACT on-campus scores to qualify for the PROMISE scholarship through August 2021. ACT on-campus allows colleges to administer an official ACT test on their campus for admission purposes.
Governor Jim Justice will provide funds for high school seniors applying for the Promise Scholarship, who do not have a qualifying ACT or SAT test score to take one ACT on-campus test. Through this state-sponsored effort, a student will be able to take one free exam administered on a college campus in West Virginia.
To register for an ACT on-campus test, contact the college directly. You can find a list of contacts for registering at each campus offering the on-campus test here. You cannot register on the ACT website for an on-campus test. Seating capacity may be limited. Students should register as soon as possible. There is a list of frequently asked questions on the information page.
Students are encouraged to take the test at the college they plan to attend in the 2021-2022 academic year but are not required to. Scores from an ACT on-campus test are not sent to ACT and cannot be shared with other colleges. Only the college administering the ACT on-campus test may use the results to determine eligibility for institutional scholarships, course placement, or admission. Colleges may give priority to their own applicants if space is unavailable. Once eligible for Promise, you can use the scholarship at any eligible in-state college or university.
There is a fee for taking the ACT on-campus test. Only one exam fee will be covered by the Governor’s office. After the exam is complete, the college will score the test and send the results directly to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission to be evaluated for PROMISE Scholarship eligibility. The state cannot pay for a national exam fee.
In addition to ACT on-campus testing, PROMISE applicants can take any national ACT or SAT testing scheduled between now and the end of August 2021 to qualify. For the scholarship program to receive test scores as soon as possible, students should enter the code 4539 when registering for the ACT, and 3456 for the SAT.
Applicants must obtain an eligible score in all areas in one test sitting. All other PROMISE eligibility requirements, including test scores, remain the same:
- ACT: 22 composite score with a minimum of 20 in English, math, science, and reading.
- SAT: 1100 total score with a minimum of 520 in math, and 530 in evidence - based reading and writing.
Questions about the PROMISE Scholarship can be directed to our office at 304-558-4618 or by email PROMISE@wvhepc.edu. For additional information visit http://cfwv.com/promise or http://www.wvhepc.edu/coronavirus/.